I thank Con for accepting this debate. The Normandy landings, also known as D-Day is usually viewed by the west as one of the most important events of WWII. However what is not understood, is that D-Day took place in 1944 when it was clear that Germany would lose. Germany was heavily outnumbered on all fronts and had no sufficient reserves of planes and armor.

During D-Day, 156,000 allied troops assaulted a 10,000 man German front. Germany had relatively few troops in France because most of those soldiers were fighting on other fronts. D-Day enabled the allies to later invade France, however besides shortening the war by perhaps a couple months, the allied invasion of France did nothing. Germany would have lose, sooner or later. [1]

The Battle of Stalingrad however can be considered as the most important battle of WWII

Reasons that Stalingrad was important:

-Saved Stalingrad (the second most important city in the USSR)-Saved the valuable oil-fields at the Caucuses (Grozny, Baku, Maykop, etc) which provided some 95% of Soviet oil. [2]-Saved the British Empire (stopped Germany from breaking into the middle-east which was lightly defended from where they could reach India and Egypt)-Germany suffered a staggering 850,000 casualties [2]-This was the largest defeat for Germany-The entire coarse of the war in Europe changed (in other words this was the most important turning point of the war)-The Germans were in retreat on a scale never seen before shortly following the end of the Battle of Stalingrad-Ensured that Turkey would not join the axis

What was more important, a battle that resulted in 20,000 casualties, or a battle that resulted in 2,000,000 dead? At D-Day, Germany suffered some 6,000 casualties. At Stalingrad the axis suffered 850,000 casualties. Before Stalingrad, Germany had a chance to win. After Stalingrad the chances of a Germany victory were almost nonexistent. D-Day shortened the war by a couple months but had no effect on the outcome of WWII.

I would like to also state that Con picked a weak battle to support in this debate. The Battles of Moscow,the Battle of Britain, or even the Battle of Kursk might have been debatable in importance to Stalingrad, however D-Day is not.

You listed the reasons you feel that Stalingrad was the most important battle of the war. I hope you don't mind if I do the same with D-Day.

The Invasion of Normandy:
-Is considered the turning point of the European theater of WWII
-The landings required the Allied troops to work together and coordinate, therefore strengthening our ties with other nations.
-Fostered a sense of pride and patriotism in America
-Gave the Allied troops new hope and motivation to fight the war
-Essentially ended the war in the European theater, by proving to Germany that the Allies would keep going until they won
-Showed that the world superpowers, especially America and Britain, would not stand for someone trying to take over well established countries.

My grandfather served in World War Two, and was part of the landings at Omaha Beach. and he says that the landings at Normandy made a huge impact on the troops. It boosted their moral and made them feel like what they were fighting for was real. They were there to free a people that were help against their will. It can be hard to foster that kind of morale in troops that downtrodden. This is while I say the landings were the most important battles.

Most historians agree that there were three turning points inin the European Theater. The Battle of Moscow ensured that Germany would not win a quick victory on its own terms. The Battle of Stalingrad ensured the Germany would lost the war, the only question remained how badly? Total defeat or a negotiated peace? The Battle of Kursk ensured Germany would lose the war, the only question would be how long it could last. D-Day occured when the outcome of the war was no longer in doubt. Therefor it is not a turning point.

"The landings required the Allied troops to work together and coordinate, therefore strengthening our ties with other nations."

Oh really? Perhaps, however that does not support your argument that D-Day was more important in terms of its effect on the outcome of the war.

"Fostered a sense of pride and patriotism in America"

Irrelevant in this debate. I'm sure Midway did the same for American soldiers. Stalingrad and Moscow did the same for Russians.

"Gave the Allied troops new hope and motivation to fight the war"

Err...except that Germany was already losing.

"Essentially ended the war in the European theater, by proving to Germany that the Allies would keep going until they won"

The allies won victories everywhere, in Africa, in Italy, in the east... I think Germany already knew that the allies could keep going.

"Showed that the world superpowers, especially America and Britain, would not stand for someone trying to take over well established countries."

Britain, who had recently lost its empire to the Germans and Japanese was in no way, shape or form, a superpower. Its army and navy was in ruins. People already knew that America and Britain were unhappy with Germany taking over Europe.

Most of Con's arguments do not show how D-Day's importance was greater than Stalingrad.

Although Con's grandfather fought at D-Day and said great things about it, that does not make D-Day any more important than Stalingrad. At D-Day there were 20,000 casualties. At Stalingrad, there were 2 million. D-Day's most important role was to ensure that the Soviets would not grab western Europe.

-Saved Stalingrad (the second most important city in the USSR)
-Saved the valuable oil-fields at the Caucuses (Grozny, Baku, Maykop, etc) which provided some 95% of Soviet oil
-Saved the British Empire (stopped Germany from breaking into the middle-east which was lightly defended from where they could reach India and Egypt)
-Germany suffered a staggering 850,000 casualties
-This was the largest defeat for Germany
-The entire coarse of the war in Europe changed (in other words this was the most important turning point of the war)
-The Germans were in retreat on a scale never seen before shortly following the end of the Battle of Stalingrad
-Ensured that Turkey would not join the axis

Reasons for voting decision: Good job to both debaters. Pro had more sources and I think he showed how Stalingrad had more casulaties between the Soviet Union and Germans. Also it helped to prepare the Americans for D-Day.

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